WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2024 |
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In today's newsletter, which schools are among the most underperforming, wind chills to drop below zero and an upcoming 80s night. |
Detroit’s other football team |
The Detroit Lions redemption arc has captured the hearts of football fans across the country. Many are calling the Lions America’s Team. So long, Cowboys! But in episode six of Yes Michigan, we tell the story of another football team that’s climbing to new heights in the motor city. Detroit City FC started as an amateur, rec league soccer team in 2012. A decade later, they reached the second tier of American professional soccer, after the MLS. And with them every step of the way is the Northern Guard: a rabid, rowdy supporters group that embodies the spirit of Detroit. In episode 6 of our Yes Michigan podcast, we'll take you on a trip to Hamtramck, where you get the world in two square miles, and the world’s sport is on the rise. You can listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. Don't forget to rate and review! |
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Officer Cathy Williams, left, of Grand Rapids Police Department shops with Jason Berduo, 4, during an annual “Shop with a Hero” event at Knapp's Corner Meijer in Grand Rapids on Tuesday, December 10, 2024. (Isaac Ritchey | MLive.com) |
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How will Michigan fund roads in the future? Here’s what’s on the table |
Industry leaders and nonpartisan experts say Michigan is in need of a new, long-term road funding system. As the 2024 legislative year nears its end, state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have proposed solutions to address the state’s crumbling infrastructure during lame duck -- the period before term-ending officials leave Lansing and newly-elected officials move in. Ideas on the table range from increasing how much residents pay at the fuel pump or for vehicle registrations, to redirecting state funds from other recipients, to establishing toll roads or charging drivers per mile driven. To know: New Michigan laws will allow cameras to be installed in construction zones and on school buses to enforce traffic safety laws and curb violations. Under legislation signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday, Dec. 10, drivers barreling through work zones could be ticketed for violating posted speed limits even if they aren’t immediately pulled over. The latest: Lawmakers are proposing a ban on all flavored tobacco products in the state. The bills would ban the sale of flavored nicotine vapes and cigars as well as menthol cigarettes in Michigan. |
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Which Michigan schools are among the most underperforming — and are they improving? |
Numbers: Many of Michigan’s K-12 schools put on a state watch list in the last few years are still among the state’s most underperforming, according to the latest school index reports released by the Michigan Department of Education. Schools got a preview of the accountability results for the 2023-24 school year in early November before the latest index was made public Nov. 15. You can search through the list of schools here. More in education: Salaries for more than 57,000 University of Michigan employees have been released in the university’s annual salary disclosure report. You can search the database of base salaries here. In health: More than a dozen Michigan hospitals are among the best in the nation for maternity care, according to a new ranking from U.S. News and World Report. The 15 hospitals received “high performing” grades for maternity care in uncomplicated pregnancy. The national publication evaluated 817 hospitals nationwide, granting the grade to only half. |
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Coldest air of the season headed into Michigan, wind chills to drop below zero |
Arctic air will be surging through the Great Lakes on Wednesday and into Thursday. This will be the coldest airmass of the season so far. It will be accompanied by blustery winds and heavy lake-effect snow in some areas of the state. It will also plunge our wind chills below zero in many areas. Stay safe: The storm system expected to bring heavy lake-effect snow and gusty winds to West Michigan, Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula on Wednesday could also make road conditions hazardous on the east side of the state as embedded snow squalls are in the forecast. Here's a timeline that shows when and which areas will get blasted with snow. Lights off: Just how bad are Michigan utilities at keeping the lights on for customers? By some metrics, their performance continues to put the state at the bottom of the barrel across the entire United States. That’s the major takeaway from a new report released by a watchdog group for residential utility customers, and it’s unlikely to surprise Michiganders who have sat through widespread outages in recent years. |
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How a local artist turned the Detroit Lions’ struggles into a victory anthem |
Music runs deep in the Lions’ culture. But one track stands above the rest — a song as fun as it is catchy. It’s the anthem that ignites players and fans alike: local Detroit rapper Gmac Cash’s Lions Won Again. In 2021, the team got off to a 0-10-1 start before picking up their first victory of the season in Week 13 against the Vikings. That prompted Gmac Cash, born Gerald Allen, to release the song Lions Won A Game. Two weeks later, the Lions picked up their second victory of the season, a 30-12 win over the Arizona Cardinals, inspiring Allen to release Lions Won Again. In MLB: Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch has given an update on Javier Báez’s recovery, stating "he’s been very diligent." Baez, 32, underwent season-ending hip surgery in August. |
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It’s 80s night in Michigan with Toto, Men at Work and Christopher Cross |
Decade fun: You’ll want to break out your vintage jean jacket and neon shirts for this one. It’s 80s night at Pine Knob in Clarkston with Toto, Men At Workand Christopher Cross on Monday, August 11, 2025. Tickets for this concert go on-sale Friday, December 13 at 10 a.m. Festive: Christmas is coming soon, and an Ann Arbor-area church is celebrating the holiday with more than 100,000 bright lights. The Ann Arbor Baptist Church is hosting its free drive-thru “Christmas Experience,” light show from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, to Sunday, Dec. 15. Historic: The oldest ski hill in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula will open its slopes for the season this weekend. Mont Ripley Ski Area will open its canal-side runs on Friday, Dec. 13, according to Visit Keweenaw. |
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We're halfway through the week |
Thank you for joining me on today's edition of the Morning Briefing. As always, you can catch the latest Michigan news at MLive.com. While you're there, consider becoming a subscriber. Have a nice day! — Jamie Rewerts |
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